Take the high ground: That is the universal advice we have been given since we resigned from the AIDS Network Board of Directors almost one year ago.
It gets hard after a while when you want to continue to stick to the issues and yet you are being subjected to the relentless personal attacks of those who are not willing to engage in substantive discussions. It gets harder when you have political leaders who are unwilling to talk to you and discuss the issues in a clear and rational manner. It gets harder when you see people who are living with HIV and AIDS going without the basic necessities of life. Or when you hear from health care professionals of the life that was lost because a person living with HIV/AIDS was unable to access AODA treatment services.
Take the high road
Or the homeless veteran sent to a heating grate by his case manager because of a bureaucratic snafu that the other ASO was able to correct in less than 48 hours. It gets harder to not take it personally when you realize that a board of directors, the vast majority of which are not HIV positive, are making decisions for the HIV community and feel it appropriate to dismiss your concerns as subversive.
We have been on the inside of the board of directors of AIDS Network. We have witnessed first hand the demonization that occurs when someone disagrees with a member of the staff; One of us being accused throughout the time on the board as being out to destroy AIDS Network and to cause a merger with ARCW for simply raising questions about the sustainability of the agency. One of us told that our questions of staff wouldn’t be answered because the very act of asking the questions were making the staff feel incompetent. Not to mention thae fact that it was questioned as to whether it was a conflict of interest for a client of AIDS Network to serve on the board of directors.
Yes, the more that happens, the harder it is to
Take the high road
It’s hard to take the high ground when you have a friends of yours, supportive of your efforts, advised to sever his friendship with you or he could suffer retaliation.
It’s hard to not take it personally when you realize that decisions at all levels are being made that are not in the best interests of those living with HIV/AIDS in the southern public health region.
There are compelling reasons to stay on the high ground. We have the facts on our side and we have documented everything. The attacks that have been flying our way have not been about the data, they have been about the messengers.
It is a sad state of affairs.
The next chapters in this book are clearly coming into focus. The book is far from written but there are rumblings among many, including those that don’t want to be outed as being involved in this movement just yet as well as those very valued sources of information from within the ranks of DHS and AIDS Network.
The next chapter could very well be the formation of a Madison based chapter of ACT Up;
The next chapter could be an aggressive media campaign to inform the general public of what we have learned;
The next chapter could be officially requesting an independent investigation of the DHS AIDS/HIV Program by the State Legislative Audit Bureau;
We could ask HRSA to come to Wisconsin and audit the AIDS/HIV program;
The next chapter could be discussions with HRSA and CDC about expectations of federally funded agencies;
The next chapter may be chartering a bus to Milwaukee for Madison residents living with AIDS to see what a real AIDS service organization looks like;
The next chapter could be a group of current and former clients of AIDS Network and former directors requesting the resignation of any director who has been on the AIDS Network board of directors for more than 2 years, for the case can be made that they have failed in their fiduciary obligation to not only the organization but also the clients the organization is charged with providing service;
The next chapter could involve uncovering the history of failure going back several years; a history that shows a historic lack of annul client reassessments; a history that shows misreporting of Life Care services tracking and expenditures; a history that shows violation of state contracts through the reimbursement of providers at billed rates vs. medicaid approved rates;
The next chapter could be raising the question with ACT Riders as to why they place the future of this wonderful fundraiser and public relations effort in the hands of AIDS Network and not incorporate as a separate grant giving entity;
Lastly, the next chapter could be calling on the leaders of AIDS Network to step outside of their egos and take Doug Nelson up on his offer. Sit down and talk to ARCW. See what common ground there is. Engage in a dialog and, who knows, maybe you will come to the conclusion that a merger of the two organizations would be in the best interests of those living with HIV/AIDS in the southern region. The least that could happen is you would see that there are innovative opportunities to collaborate with your fellow ASO.
Regardless of the next chapter, what is guaranteed is that we will stay on the high ground. If only the other side could do the same thing.
This book is a long way from completion
Our commitment is to stick to the issues and continue to
June 19, 2009
Taking the high road
The Next Chapter
Take the high ground: That is the universal advice we have been given since we resigned from the AIDS Network Board of Directors almost one year ago.
It gets hard after a while when you want to continue to stick to the issues and yet you are being subjected to the relentless personal attacks of those who are not willing to engage in substantive discussions. It gets harder when you have political leaders who are unwilling to talk to you and discuss the issues in a clear and rational manner. It gets harder when you see people who are living with HIV and AIDS going without the basic necessities of life. Or when you hear from health care professionals of the life that was lost because a person living with HIV/AIDS was unable to access AODA treatment services.
Take the high road
Or the homeless veteran sent to a heating grate by his case manager because of a bureaucratic snafu that the other ASO was able to correct in less than 48 hours. It gets harder to not take it personally when you realize that a board of directors, the vast majority of which are not HIV positive, are making decisions for the HIV community and feel it appropriate to dismiss your concerns as subversive.
We have been on the inside of the board of directors of AIDS Network. We have witnessed first hand the demonization that occurs when someone disagrees with a member of the staff; One of us being accused throughout the time on the board as being out to destroy AIDS Network and to cause a merger with ARCW for simply raising questions about the sustainability of the agency. One of us told that our questions of staff wouldn’t be answered because the very act of asking the questions were making the staff feel incompetent. Not to mention thae fact that it was questioned as to whether it was a conflict of interest for a client of AIDS Network to serve on the board of directors.
Yes, the more that happens, the harder it is to
Take the high road
It’s hard to take the high ground when you have a friends of yours, supportive of your efforts, advised to sever his friendship with you or he could suffer retaliation.
It’s hard to not take it personally when you realize that decisions at all levels are being made that are not in the best interests of those living with HIV/AIDS in the southern public health region.
There are compelling reasons to stay on the high ground. We have the facts on our side and we have documented everything. The attacks that have been flying our way have not been about the data, they have been about the messengers.
It is a sad state of affairs.
The next chapters in this book are clearly coming into focus. The book is far from written but there are rumblings among many, including those that don’t want to be outed as being involved in this movement just yet as well as those very valued sources of information from within the ranks of DHS and AIDS Network.
The next chapter could very well be the formation of a Madison based chapter of ACT Up;
The next chapter could be an aggressive media campaign to inform the general public of what we have learned;
The next chapter could be officially requesting an independent investigation of the DHS AIDS/HIV Program by the State Legislative Audit Bureau;
We could ask HRSA to come to Wisconsin and audit the AIDS/HIV program;
The next chapter could be discussions with HRSA and CDC about expectations of federally funded agencies;
The next chapter may be chartering a bus to Milwaukee for Madison residents living with AIDS to see what a real AIDS service organization looks like;
The next chapter could be a group of current and former clients of AIDS Network and former directors requesting the resignation of any director who has been on the AIDS Network board of directors for more than 2 years, for the case can be made that they have failed in their fiduciary obligation to not only the organization but also the clients the organization is charged with providing service;
The next chapter could involve uncovering the history of failure going back several years; a history that shows a historic lack of annul client reassessments; a history that shows misreporting of Life Care services tracking and expenditures; a history that shows violation of state contracts through the reimbursement of providers at billed rates vs. medicaid approved rates;
The next chapter could be raising the question with ACT Riders as to why they place the future of this wonderful fundraiser and public relations effort in the hands of AIDS Network and not incorporate as a separate grant giving entity;
Lastly, the next chapter could be calling on the leaders of AIDS Network to step outside of their egos and take Doug Nelson up on his offer. Sit down and talk to ARCW. See what common ground there is. Engage in a dialog and, who knows, maybe you will come to the conclusion that a merger of the two organizations would be in the best interests of those living with HIV/AIDS in the southern region. The least that could happen is you would see that there are innovative opportunities to collaborate with your fellow ASO.
Regardless of the next chapter, what is guaranteed is that we will stay on the high ground. If only the other side could do the same thing.
This book is a long way from completion
Our commitment is to stick to the issues and continue to
Take the high road
Ray Durr & Greg Milward
April 27, 2009